14th ICID - Poster Abstracts - International Society for Infectious ...

When citing these abstracts please use the following reference:
Author(s) of abstract. Title of abstract [abstract]. Int J Infect Dis 2010;14S1: Abstract number.
Please note that the official publication of the International Journal of Infectious Diseases 2010, Volume 14, Supplement 1
is available electronically on http://www.sciencedirect.com
Final Abstract Number: 30.003
Session: Mycology, Fungal Infections and Antifungal Drugs
Date: Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Time: 12:30-13:30
Room: Poster & Exhibition Area/Ground Level
Type: Poster Presentation
Mixed fungal colonization in non-surgical intensive care patients
A. Gloeckner 1 , P. Abel 2 , K. Zimmermann 2
1 BDH-Klinik Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany, 2 University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
Background: Knowledge of risk factors is important for properly applying and evaluating
diagnostic tests to derive therapeutic conclusions. Colonization with fungi has been identified as
an independent risk factor for invasive mycosis. In addition to colonization with a single species,
the combination of different fungal species may be of interest.
Methods: In a prospective study we analyzed samples taken from 411 patients after admission to
our ICU. Swabs from nostril, throat and anus and specimens of tracheal secretions and urine
were taken and cultured on CHROM- Agar.
Results: Positive results were found in 798 (42.7%) of all 1868 samples. Of these, 618 were
positive for a single species, 158 for two species, and 22 for three species. Concerning
distribution of species, we found Candida albicans in 69.3%, Candida glabrata in 34.8% and
Candida tropicalis in 8.1% of all positive specimens. In 90 cases, cultures grew Candida albicans
together with Candida glabrata, in 23 cases, Candida albicans together with Candida tropicalis, in
12 cases, Candida albicans together with Candida glabrata and Candida tropicalis. Most
frequently, a mixed colonization was detected from throat swabs (74 mixed, out of 281 positive
cultures, 26.3%), followed by tracheal secretions (35 mixed, out of 153 positive cultures, 22.9%)
and anal swabs (48 mixed, out of 235 positive cultures, 20.4%). In contrast, a mixed colonization
was significantly less frequent in nasal swabs (18 mixed, out of 136 positive cultures, 13.2%) and
in urine (5 mixed, out of 56 positive cultures, 8.9%).
Conclusion: A large proportion of samples showed growth of yeasts. Out of culturally positive, in
22.6% were found more than one species. Colonization with more than one species was found to
be significantly more frequent in throat, trachea and anus compared to nose and urine.